Leach: If we played today, Tuel would start

PULLMAN - Mike Leach has nothing but good things to say about BYU as he prepares to visit his alma mater, but Washington State's new football coach isn't giving away any trade secrets before his current Cougars take on his former Cougars in Thursday's season opener in Provo, Utah.

Leach won't even publicly name senior Jeff Tuel the starting quarterback, even though Tuel has been WSU's starter since midway through his freshman year when healthy and has been taking the lion's share of snaps with the No. 1 offense in practice.

"If we were to play today, he would (start)," Leach said Saturday. "He's had a good camp, and I expect him to have a good week. He's played well, and of course, Connor's (backup Connor Halliday has) done some good things, too."

Tuel missed most of last season with injuries after earning all-conference honorable mention in the Pac-10 Conference in 2010. Tuel has applied to the NCAA for a medical hardship year that would extend his college eligibility to 2013, but he has not committed to definitely staying in college next year if he is eligible.

"The team responds to him," Leach said. "Part of that is they know how dedicated Jeff is and how hard Jeff's worked."

Leach refuses to disclose injury information about players and asks players and assistant coaches to do the same. There remains concern that former Wilson High School star Xavier Cooper — projected to be a key part of WSU's defensive line — may not be ready for the opener.

Cooper is nursing a right foot or ankle injury that has kept him out of practice. He was recently seen running sprints with apparent ease, but on Friday, he was wearing a protective boot, as he had previously.